Recljning-chair



( 0 Model F. H P R. 3Sheets Sheet 1.,

. I HEGLINING CHAIR. No. 318,796. Paiented May 26, 1885.

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ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. FhMn-U'Mnpher, Warinm D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

F. H. PLUMMER.

REGLINING CHAIR.

Patented May 26, 1885.

INVBNTOR.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES;- 3114/ u. PETERS. Plwb-Uihnmphur, wuunmn. ma

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Patented May 26, 1885.

ATTOREIEYS.

INVENTOR JKFMWV,

llhvrrnn drarns FEQEQ Parent FRANK H. PLUMMER, OF HENNIKER, NEYVHAMPSHIRE.

RECLlNlNG-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,796, dated May 26,1885.

Application filed February 6, 1885. {No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. PLUMMER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Henniker, in the county of Merrimac and State of NewHampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReclining-Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull,clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved reclining-chair, showing the same with the back raised and inposition for use as a parlor-chair. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal verticalsectional view of the same with the back lowered and the leg-restraised. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the chair-body detached andarranged for use as a swinging or hammock chair. Fig. 4 is a bottom viewof the same. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view on a larger scale ofthe leg-rest, illustrating the method of connecting the latter to theseatframe, from which the seat has been removed, so as to illustrate itsconstruction. Fig. 6 is aside view of a portion of the chair-frame withparts broken away, so as to illustrate the con struction more clearly.Fig.7 is a detail view in perspective on a larger scale of one of thearm-rests with its connections; and Fig. 8 is a transverse sectionalview of the head-rest used in connection with my improvedreclining-chair.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to reclining-chairs of that class in which theback-frame and a legrest are hinged or pivot-ed, respectively, at therear and front ends of a seat-frame, and connected pivotally by means ofthe arm-rests, so that when the back is lowered the leg-rest shall beautomatically raised, and vice versa; and it has for its object toproduce a chair of this class which shall possess superior advantages inpoint of simplicity, durability, and general eiliciency, which shall beconvertible at will into a rocking, a reclining, or aswinging or hammockchair, so as to combine in one the advantages of them all, and whichstorage or shipment.

bearings for the pivots of the leg-rest.

shall be so constructed as to be readily dismembered and packed in asmall space for lVith these ends in view the invention consists in theimproved construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafterfully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A A designate the side rails of theseat-frame, which are connected by means of transverse metal straps B B,adapted to support the seat C,

which is to be suitably constructed and upholstered and provided on itsunder side with transverse cleats D D, fitting between the straps B B,so as to retain the seat in position when adjusted, and prevent it fromsliding in a forward or rearward direction.

E designates the back of the chair, the frame of which is suitablyconstructed and upholstered. The side rails, F F, of the back-frame arehinged or pivoted to the outer sides of the seat-rails A A, at the rearends of the latter, by means of bolts G G, allowing the said backframeto swing between a vertical and an approximately horizontal position.

The front ends of the side rails, A A,of the seat-frame are providedwith slots H H, which may be lined with metal, and which form The latterconsists of a suitable frame, the side rails of which, I I, are providedon theirinner sides with cleats J J, supporting a slidingextension-frame and foot-rest, K, the construction and operation ofwhich need not be herein described indetail, it having been shown andclaimed in another application. The upper ends of the side rails, I I,are provided with metallic sockets L L, provided withlaterally-extending pivots II M, having their bearings in the slots H H,and provided at their outer ends with forwardly and upwardly andforwardly extending curved arms or levers N N.

O O designate the arm-rests, the rear ends of which are pivoted to theside rails, F F, of the back, and the under sides of which are providedwith downwardly and forwardly eX- IOO m, I O

rods R R, the front ends of which are provided with laterallyinward-extending studs S S, by means of which they are pivotallyconnected with the upper ends of the lever-arms N N, which are providedwith perforations to receive the said studs. The rods B may be retainedin any position to which they may be adjusted by means of eyebolts T Tpassing transversely through the scrolls l? 1?, and provided at theirouter ends with thumb-nuts U U, by means of which the rods R, which passthrough the said eyebolts, may be tightened and held secure. Other meansfor adjusting and retaining the rods R B may, however, be adoptedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

To the outer sides of the seat-rails A A, near their rear ends, arepivoted a pair of forwardly extending curved rods, V V, passing througheyebolts WV \V, extending transversely through the scrolls, and providedat their outer ends with thumb-nuts X X, or equiva lent devices, bymeans of which the rods V V may be readily clamped or tightened, so asto retain the back and leg-rest of the chair in any position to whichthey may be adjusted.

The lower corners of the extension-frame of the leg-rest are connectedby means of cords Y Y with the upper front ends of the armrests, saidcords serving to withdraw the said extension-frame into the leg-restframe when the latter is lowered.

The operation of the parts of my invention thus far described will bereadily understood. It will be observed that the arm-rests form,

practically, pivotal connecting-rods between the back frame and theupwardly and forwardly extending lever-arms of the leg-rest, so thatwhen the former is lowered the latter will be raised, and vice versa. Itwill also be observed that the distance between the fulcra of thelever-arms N N being shorter than the distance between the points atwhich the armrests are pivoted to the side rails of the backframe andthe latter to the seat-rails the legrest frame will, owing to thedifference in leverage, be raised at a greater rate of speed than theback-frame will be lowered, so that by the time the latter reaches ahorizontal position the free end of the former will be raised above thelevel of the seat. This feature, however, is not herein claimed, being,in part, the subject of another application. An important feature of thepresent invention, however, are the adj Listing-rods R R, by means ofwhich the angle or position of the leg-rest frame with relation to theback may be regulated, and which also serve to regulate the extent towhich the back may be tilted, inasmuch as the latter cannot, of course,be tilted beyond apoint at which the fulcra of the arms N N and thepoints at which the arm-rests are pivoted to the back are in a line witheach other, and the upper fulcra of said lever-arms being adjustablewith the said rods.

The seat-rails A A are provided with downwardly-extending studs Z Z andbolts A,

adapted to enter suitable recesses and perforations in the top rails, BB, of the rockerframe 0, to which the chair-body may be attached bymeans of thumb-nuts D, fitting the bolts A. The rocker-frame is of theordinary platform kind, and is mounted upon the platform E, with whichit is connected by means of spring fixtures of suitable construction, asshown at F. The sides of the rocker-frame are connected detachably bymeans of the rounds G G, in order that it may be readily taken apart forstorage or shipment. The front round of the rocker-frame is connectedwith one of the rounds of the platform by means of a cord, H, ofsuitable length to prevent the chair, when used as a rocker, fromtilting back in case the springs should give way. \Vhen the chair isused as a rocker, the leg-rest is connected with the rocker-frame bymeans of suitable catches, I, (illustrated in de- -tail. in the smallfigure under Fig. 2, and also shown on the said figure) which areadapted to engage or interlock with each other, and which prevent itfrom swinging out'and interfering with the rocking, or the chair may beused as a rocker while extended for a reclining posture. WVhen it isdesired to use the chair as a reclining chair only, the rockerframe isconnected with the platform by means of hooks or braces J, which willprevent it from rocking.

When it is desired to convert the chair into a swinging or hammockchair, the thumb-nuts D are removed and the chairbody lifted off therocker-frame. A pair of longitudinal bars, K K, having perforations toreceive the studs Z and bolts A are then placed in position and securedby means of the thumb-nuts D. The front and rear ends of the bars K Kare connected by cross-bars L, to the projecting ends of which thesuspending ropes or cords M are attached.

From the foreging description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will bereadily understood. The general construction is simple, but of such anature that, while the chair may be manufactured at a reasonableexpense, it admits of being made as ornamental and luxurious as may bedesired. As a reclining-chair, the positions to which it may be adjustedare numerous and comfort able, and it may easily and quickly beconverted into a handsome parlor or easy chair, a rocker, or a swingingor hammock chair.

My improved chair is provided with a headrest, N, consisting of acushion of suitable shape, through the center of which, runs a tube, 0,of cloth, rubber, or other suitable material or combination ofmaterials. Running through said tube in opposite directions a are a pairof cords, P 1?, each provided at one end with a stop or tassel, andhaving its other end attached to the top of the backframe. The saidcords retain the cushion or head-rest by friction at any-position towhich it may be adjusted, and it will be seen that by simply pulling theprojecting ends of the cords in opposite directions the cushion may beraised, while by simply pressing it in a downward direction it may belowered. Vvhen it is not desired to use the head-rest, it may be swungover in rear of the back of the chair.

It is obvious that in the manufacture of this invention it may be founddesirable to adopt various changes in the construction and arrangementof details. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limitmyself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts hereindescribed, but reserve to myself the right to all such modifications asmay be adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In this case I disclaim all matter which has here been shown, but whichhas been claimed in my application Serial No. 155,068 of even dateherewith; and I also disclaim all matter illustrated by the presentstate of the art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States 1. The combination of the seat-railshaving slots at their front'ends, the back hinged at the rear ends ofthe said seat-rails, the legrest frame, sockets at the upper ends of theside rails of the latter having laterally-extending studs journaled inthe slots of the seat-rails and provided with upwardly andforwardlyextending curved lever-arms, and the armrests pivoted to the side railsof the back-frame and provided with longitudinally-sliding adjustablerods, the front ends of which have laterally-extending studs journaledin the upper ends of the let-'enarms, substantially as herein described,for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the chair-body, constructed substantially asdescribed, and the seat-rails of which are provided withdownwardly-extending studs and bolts, of the rockerframe, the top railsof which are provided with perforations to receive the said studs andbolts, and thumb -nuts fitting the said bolts for securing thechair-body detachably upon the rocker-frame, substantially as and forthe purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK H.v PLUMMER.

Witnesses:

AUGUST PETERSON, WM. SEoHER.

